no West Eden or Hannishland, but beautiful all the same. Just beyond the spaceport he saw a dense forest, with hills and mountains rising beyond. The spaceport could adequately be described as ‘quaint,’ from the simple concrete pads and metal-roofed sheds to the small brick customs station squatting next to the gate.
In the distance, however, he noticed what looked like a scrapyard, dozens of ships, mostly tramp freighters, squatted in a large field near some large structures. He wondered at that, particularly since he saw a great deal of activity in the area. Almost looks like a refugee fleet, he realized.
He stepped off the shuttle, followed by two Marines in full battle armor. He didn’t expect anything as… foolish as an assassination attempt, but Major Proscia had insisted. Lucius hadn't wanted to argue and a part of him had agreed.
The group of well-armed men who awaited him suggested the wisdom of that decision. They wore dark green uniforms and several wore body armor. “I am Captain Giovanni, I’ve come in good faith.”
The group that faced him stood still, obviously hesitant to start a fight with Marines in power armor. A couple of them looked back, as if they weren’t sure what to do.
In his ear bud, he heard Major William’s voice, “Baron, my men have the second shuttle ready to launch with the rest of my Marines. I spoke with your escort. You will now have a full squad accompany you while on planet.”
“ Who is in charge?” Lucius snapped at the waiting men.
Finally a uniformed officer stepped around the armed men gathered at the ramp, “I’m Captain Beeson of the Faraday Defense Forces.” He was a tall, beefy man, with dark brown hair and a ruddy complexion.
“Captain Beeson, I am Captain Giovanni. I was assured I would be granted access to your Contractor and would not be harmed along the way,” Lucius said.
The other man flushed, “We do not negotiate with pirates.”
Lucius walked down the ramp and extended his hand. The other man towered over him, and not for the first time, Lucius wished he stood at least a little taller, “Good. I’m not a pirate. I’m a military officer. As a military officer, I know that the military is bound by a code of honor. Will you honor our agreement?”
The other man spat at Lucius's feet, “We’ll honor our end, leave your men here.”
Lucius ignored the insult, though he mentally made note of the man's behavior. Either he was some kind of hothead or he was willing to deliberately provoke Lucius and his men into a firefight, possibly because he had additional forces ready to commit. The first spoke poorly of his temper, the latter suggested that he was brave and dangerous. Lucius shook his head, “They accompany me.”
“ Or else?” Captain Beeson’s eyes narrowed.
Lucius sighed, “Captain, I have no intentions of harming your world. I want to make an offer to your Contractor, one that I believe, will make your world safer.”
“ Oh... you’re a merc.” Captain Beeson sneered and he looked as if he’d stepped in something foul. “Well... follow me.”
***
The Office of the Contractor lay at the top of a high-rise.
The relative lack of ostentation surprised Lucius. Most fringe worlds had peacock-like dictators or corrupt oligarchies that luxuriated in wealth. The offices did display wealth and power, but nothing more than a powerful corporation’s offices.
He stumbled a bit, on entering the Contractor’s presence. He had not expected anything so progressive as a female leader, not on a backwater colony off the books. The Contractor was a woman of medium height with closely cut blonde hair and blue eyes. She was not classically attractive, Lucius decided. Her nose was too long and her jaw too strong, though there was a strength about her that he found attractive. She did not rise from her desk to greet him or offer him a seat in one of the chairs. She remained
In the distance, however, he noticed what looked like a scrapyard, dozens of ships, mostly tramp freighters, squatted in a large field near some large structures. He wondered at that, particularly since he saw a great deal of activity in the area. Almost looks like a refugee fleet, he realized.
He stepped off the shuttle, followed by two Marines in full battle armor. He didn’t expect anything as… foolish as an assassination attempt, but Major Proscia had insisted. Lucius hadn't wanted to argue and a part of him had agreed.
The group of well-armed men who awaited him suggested the wisdom of that decision. They wore dark green uniforms and several wore body armor. “I am Captain Giovanni, I’ve come in good faith.”
The group that faced him stood still, obviously hesitant to start a fight with Marines in power armor. A couple of them looked back, as if they weren’t sure what to do.
In his ear bud, he heard Major William’s voice, “Baron, my men have the second shuttle ready to launch with the rest of my Marines. I spoke with your escort. You will now have a full squad accompany you while on planet.”
“ Who is in charge?” Lucius snapped at the waiting men.
Finally a uniformed officer stepped around the armed men gathered at the ramp, “I’m Captain Beeson of the Faraday Defense Forces.” He was a tall, beefy man, with dark brown hair and a ruddy complexion.
“Captain Beeson, I am Captain Giovanni. I was assured I would be granted access to your Contractor and would not be harmed along the way,” Lucius said.
The other man flushed, “We do not negotiate with pirates.”
Lucius walked down the ramp and extended his hand. The other man towered over him, and not for the first time, Lucius wished he stood at least a little taller, “Good. I’m not a pirate. I’m a military officer. As a military officer, I know that the military is bound by a code of honor. Will you honor our agreement?”
The other man spat at Lucius's feet, “We’ll honor our end, leave your men here.”
Lucius ignored the insult, though he mentally made note of the man's behavior. Either he was some kind of hothead or he was willing to deliberately provoke Lucius and his men into a firefight, possibly because he had additional forces ready to commit. The first spoke poorly of his temper, the latter suggested that he was brave and dangerous. Lucius shook his head, “They accompany me.”
“ Or else?” Captain Beeson’s eyes narrowed.
Lucius sighed, “Captain, I have no intentions of harming your world. I want to make an offer to your Contractor, one that I believe, will make your world safer.”
“ Oh... you’re a merc.” Captain Beeson sneered and he looked as if he’d stepped in something foul. “Well... follow me.”
***
The Office of the Contractor lay at the top of a high-rise.
The relative lack of ostentation surprised Lucius. Most fringe worlds had peacock-like dictators or corrupt oligarchies that luxuriated in wealth. The offices did display wealth and power, but nothing more than a powerful corporation’s offices.
He stumbled a bit, on entering the Contractor’s presence. He had not expected anything so progressive as a female leader, not on a backwater colony off the books. The Contractor was a woman of medium height with closely cut blonde hair and blue eyes. She was not classically attractive, Lucius decided. Her nose was too long and her jaw too strong, though there was a strength about her that he found attractive. She did not rise from her desk to greet him or offer him a seat in one of the chairs. She remained
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